Biologically-enhanced sensor arrays for the analysis of proteins

蛋白质组学是对蛋白质的研究，包括对蛋白质结构和功能的研究。这包括研究哪些蛋白质表达，何时何地表达，蛋白质的结构，蛋白质的作用和蛋白质的相互作用。需要蛋白质组学仪器、试剂和检测来发现新的生物标志物和新药。这种类型的仪器市场在2013年超过50亿美元，预计到2019年将达到228亿美元。蛋白质的多重测定对于理解和诊断复杂疾病具有特别重要的意义，其中传统的基因组测定有些不足。然而，传统技术涉及多个步骤，因此是耗费劳动力的，并且不适合于大规模血液筛查。因此，人们对开发规避典型蛋白质微阵列限制的生物测定平台一直感兴趣。典型的生物测定系统将物理换能器与特异性识别探针（诸如酶、核酸、细胞、抗体或人工受体）耦合。传感器由一个通过改变目标的一个物理特性来检测目标存在的装置组成。表面声波传感器对于在流体中操作的分析系统的部署表现出若干优点。例如，重量生物分子检测为检测朊病毒和蛋白质的传统测定提供了有力的替代方案。更具体地说，在剪切模式下操作的薄膜体声波谐振器（FBAR）传感器能够实现对流体中的分析物的实型检测，这是许多其他传感器平台所缺少的关键特性。必须解决几个挑战，以使FBAR传感器的部署，用于分析流体中的蛋白质。首先，在这种装置中采用的典型压电材料在暴露于流体时倾向于降解。其次，传感器表面的更新和再利用能力将构成一项重要资产。最后，传感器响应应针对病原体的检测。该项目将通过以下目标解决这些挑战：1）开发压电纳米材料和FBAR设备，以适应液体的暴露，2）开发可刷新的表面部分，赋予蛋白质和朊病毒检测的特异性，以及3）将这些生物增强型传感器与有源CMOS读出电路集成。该平台将为加拿大医疗保健和制药行业带来新的机遇。它将提高加拿大制药业开发和销售新药的能力，使人们能够更好地了解有关疾病，从而提高加拿大人的总体福祉。

Proteomics is the study of proteins, including the study of the structure and function of proteins. This includes the study of which proteins are expressed, when and where they are expressed, structure of proteins, roles of proteins, and interactions of proteins. Proteomic instruments, reagents and testing are needed to discover new biomarkers and new drugs. The market for such type of instrumentation topped $5 billion dollars in 2013 and is expected to reach $ 22.8 billion by 2019. The multiplexed assaying of proteins is of specific importance for the understanding and diagnosis of complex diseases where traditional genomic assays are somewhat inadequate. Traditional techniques however involves multiple steps and are thus labor consuming and inappropriate for large scale blood screening. There has therefore been sustained interest towards the development of bioassay platforms circumventing the limitations of typical proteins microarrays. A typical bioassay system couples a physical transducer with a specific recognition probe such as an enzyme, nucleic acid, cell, antibody or artificial receptor. The transducer consists of a device detecting the presence of the target through a change of one of its physical properties. Surface acoustic wave sensors exhibit several advantages for the deployment of analytical systems operating in fluids. For instance, gravimetric biomolecular detection offers potent alternatives to traditional assays for the detection of prions and proteins. More specifically, thin-film bulk acoustic wave resonators (FBAR) sensors operating in shear-mode enable the real-type detection of analytes in fluids, a critical trait missing from many other sensor platforms. Several challenges must be addressed to enable the deployment of FBAR sensors for the assaying of proteins in fluids. First, typical piezoelectric materials employed in such devices tend to degrade when exposed to fluids. Second, the ability to refresh and reuse the sensor surface would constitute an important asset. Finally, the sensor response should be made specific to the detection of the pathogen. This project will address these challenges through the following goals: 1) to develop piezoelectric nanomaterials and FBAR devices resilient to exposure of fluids, 2) to develop refreshable surface moieties imparting specificity to detection of proteins and prions, and 3) to integrate these biologically-enhanced sensors with active CMOS readout circuitry. This platform will open new opportunities for the Canadian health care and pharmaceutical industries. It will enhance the ability of Canadian pharmaceutical industries to develop and market new drugs, allow a better understanding of related diseases, and thus enhance the well-being of Canadians in general.